How safe is your water?

Published 10:45 AM EST Jan 24, 2013

(NewsUSA) - Home sweet home. There's nothing like closing the door and feeling secure. But is your home killing you?

Your security alarm system protects the perimeter; the carbon monoxide meter monitors the air; and smoke detectors alert you to signs of fire. But what about your water? Could the safety of your home be breeched by an inside

intruder?

If your home has a salt-based water softener, get rid of it.

Water softeners add salt to your water, and excess sodium has repeatedly been shown to lead to health issues including weight gain, hypertension and stroke. The American Heart Association warns that salt-softened water can cause an elevated sodium level. As with nicotine patches, sodium is readily absorbed through the skin, making it a health concern for bathing as well as drinking.

Chlorine is another concern. Water softeners do nothing to filter chlorine, or chlorine byproducts, out of your water. Municipalities use chlorine to treat water for bacteria and other threats. Chlorine does this well but is then left to cause health problems of its own. It is a major nose and throat irritant -- just think of your watery eyes after swimming in the pool. It is also a frequent cause of dry skin and hair. Federal regulations allow drinking water to be treated with, and to contain, more than twice the chlorine levels recommended for swimming pools.

Water Systems emphasizes the importance of assuring clean, great-tasting water for your family, without adding salt or chemicals to your water supply. Water softeners are detrimental to our environment as well. Salt softeners waste water and produce a salty brine that cannot be recycled and that is harmful to the environment.

If you're concerned about your family's home security, consider installing a whole-house water system. You can enjoy fresh, mineral-rich, heart-healthy water from every faucet and shower in your home.